Five Go to Smuggler's Top

Siblings Julian, Dick and Anne are spending the Easter school holidays with their cousin George at her parents’ house, Kirrin Cottage. After a tree falls on the house, the four children are sent to Smuggler's Top, the home of Mr Lenoir, a fellow-scientist of George's father, Uncle Quentin. Smuggler's Top is a queer house at the summit of an old hilltop coastal town, partly surrounded by dangerous marsh. The children are welcomed by Pierre "Sooty" Lenoir (Julian's and Dick's schoolmate and Mr Lenoir's stepson) and his half-sister Marybelle. Mr Lenoir hates dogs, so George's dog Timmy is hidden in a secret passage. One night, the boys spot a light flashing in the house's tower. They suspect the signaller may be Block, the house's sinister, apparently deaf manservant, but he appears to be sleeping in his bedroom at the time. Uncle Quentin comes to stay with them and intends to sell Mr Lenoir a plan for draining the marsh. However, Uncle Quentin is kidnapped, along with Sooty, by a local smuggler named Mr Barling, who fears the planned draining of the marsh will bring an end to his smuggling business. The children yet find another secret underground passage, leading to where Sooty and Uncle Quentin are being held captive by Barling and his henchman, who have been assisted by Block. Timmy attacks the kidnappers, allowing the captives and the children to escape. The police arrive to capture the smugglers. Outside the tunnels, Timmy is almost sucked down into the marsh but is saved by Uncle Quentin, assisted by Julian.

• Five Go To Smuggler's Top at Faded Page (Canada)
• Enid Blyton Society page
• Five Go to Smuggler's Top at www.enidblyton.net